Steelseries Arctis Nova Pro Omni tested: lifestyle headset with an inexhaustible battery
The Arctis Nova Pro Omni from Steelseries connects up to four devices simultaneously, offers effective ANC and an almost endless battery life. As a lifestyle gaming headset, it impresses in many respects - provided you accept compromises in terms of sound.
31 hours of battery life - and when the battery is empty, simply insert the second one. The Arctis Nova Pro Omni is ideal for anyone who likes to forget about charging. Plus ANC, precise localisation in gaming and connectivity that hardly any other headset can match. In short: a damn good headset.
Solid workmanship with minor weaknesses
The Arctis Nova Pro Omni is mainly made of plastic, but the headband is made of metal. Overall, it looks sturdy. I particularly like the strap system, which automatically adjusts to the head size. The only weak point: the sliders on the ear cups feel rough and do not engage smoothly.
The ear cups are padded with thick artificial leather - almost too thick. The foam underneath is looser than memory foam and the artificial leather feels slightly sticky. After a short time, it gets warm around the ear. But it only gets really uncomfortable after hours. I would have preferred a textile cover because of its breathability. Too bad, because otherwise the headset sits comfortably on the head.
The retractable microphone is a big plus point: when folded in, it lies flush with the headset and mutes automatically. This means you can wear the headset on the go without attracting attention.
With the exception of the Bluetooth button, the controls are located on the left ear cup. Steelseries is spartan here: power button, microphone mute button and volume control. That's enough, because everything else is controlled via the station. More on this below. One highlight is the volume wheel, which clicks satisfyingly and sounds metallic. It reminds me of an old mechanical combination lock on a safe.
Excellent for gaming, takes some getting used to for music
The sound of the Arctis Nova Pro Omni is clearly tuned for competitive gaming. Footsteps and shots can be located precisely, and the spatial depth impresses me. The transition from near to far sounds smooth - a rarity with headsets.
Unfortunately, this specific tuning has a negative effect on story games and music. The overemphasised highs are distracting. Sibilants sound harsh, naturalness is missing. If you want to compensate for this, you have to use the equaliser.
Up to four devices simultaneously
The Arctis Nova Pro Omni scores highly in terms of connectivity. It supports PC, Playstation, Xbox, Switch, Android and iOS. The connection station offers three USB-C ports as well as a 3.5 mm input and output. This allows you to connect up to four devices simultaneously. The headset also features Bluetooth with LE audio and LC3+ codec as well as a 3.5 mm connection.
I can be connected via 2.4 GHz radio and Bluetooth at the same time without the sound quality suffering. The Bluetooth latency is noticeable, but minimal. The only disadvantage: when the dual connection is active, the microphone only transmits to the Bluetooth connection. If you are annoyed by disconnection noises, you can rest assured: The headset only emits a short beep.
Good ANC, also convincing on the go
The noise cancellation of the Nova Pro Omni does a solid job. At the desk, it reliably filters out monotonous noise such as fans. Street noise, such as passing cars, is also clearly muffled. Voices remain audible, but can be easily masked with running audio.
Microphone sounds unnatural
The microphone fulfils its purpose: voices come through clearly and the AI noise suppression effectively eliminates background noise such as keyboard clatter. However, this comes at a price: the sound comes across as artificial and robotic. An additional microphone for the folded state is missing.
Infinite battery - almost
Steelseries calls it the «Infinite Power System»: Two interchangeable batteries ensure almost unlimited runtime. While one battery is charging, you can use the other. If both are empty, 15 minutes of charging time is enough for four hours of playback. When tested, one battery charge lasted just under 31 hours via the 2.4 GHz connection - more than enough.
Software with a wide range of functions
The headset can be configured on the PC via the Steelseries GG app. The range of functions is impressive: separate equaliser presets for 2.4 GHz and Bluetooth connections, targeted frequency adjustments and more. The base station offers direct access to the most important settings and shows all connected devices on a small OLED display.
For console gamers, there is the Arctis app for smartphones. It is less comprehensive - you cannot create your own equaliser presets - but is sufficient for quick adjustments.
In a nutshell
Versatile gaming headset with an almost inexhaustible battery
The Steelseries Arctis Nova Pro Omni is an excellent headset for anyone who plays on multiple platforms and values maximum connectivity. The virtually unlimited battery, solid ANC and strong gaming qualities make it a versatile all-rounder.
The microphone and the sound for music or non-competitive games are somewhat disappointing, but can be adjusted using the equaliser. Biggest criticism: the artificial leather ear cups. Textile would be more comfortable.
If you're looking for a versatile gaming headset with maximum connectivity, you'll find it here. Those who only use it on one device will find cheaper alternatives.
Pro
- Exchangeable batteries
- Up to four devices connected simultaneously thanks to the station
- Excellent for competitive gaming
- good ANC
- Retractable and extendable microphone
Contra
- Equaliser required for music
- Microphone sounds unnatural
- Leatherette ear cups
- High price
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